Mashed potatoes are a traditional dish served at many dinner tables, but they may not be for everyone.
Whether you are following a low carb or low-calorie diet or just replacing potatoes with a different ingredient, this blog post will explore some mashed potato alternatives you can easily substitute.
Sweet Mashed Potato
Sweet potatoes are probably the most common alternative for potatoes. We have sweet potato fries, baked sweet potato and also, the deliciously tasty sweet mashed potato!
Sweet potato tastes like a cross between pumpkin and potato, but it isn’t as starchy and doesn’t leave you with that bloated feeling after eating it.
Sweet potato mash is prepared similarly to regular mashed potato; it is peeled, chopped, boiled and then mashed.
Parsnip Mash
Parsnip is an underrated veggie; they are a sweet root vegetable and often overlooked for the more popular carrots.
Parsnips are typically roasted and served as a Sunday Roast Dinner side, but they taste amazing when boiled and turned into a mash.
And if you’ve ever eaten at Ikea, you’ll have enjoyed some parsnip mash alongside their famous Swedish Meatballs!
I’d recommend adding some white pepper to give it that peppery kick!
Cauliflower mash
Cauliflower has been gaining a lot of attention as an excellent alternative to rice, but it also makes a worthy contender in place of mashed potato.
Boil the cauliflower until it is soft enough for you to pierce with a knife, drain and then mash with milk, butter and salt/pepper.
Beetroot Mash
Beetroot is another underrated veggie. Beetroot tastes amazing, roasted or steamed, but they also make fantastic mash!
Of course, the vibrant colour will brighten up any plate, and they’re easy to turn into mash too. Peel them and chop into cubes, boil until soft and mash!
Butternut Squash Mash
Butternut squash is a close relative to pumpkin. They have the same consistency as a potato when cooked, which makes this mash simple to create.
Simply roast or boil before adding some butter and mashing them up.
Carrot Mash
Naturally sweet carrots make a great mash; whether you steam or boil them to get the desired consistency, it’ll taste delicious.
And, of course, carrots are full of beta-carotene, which is good for your eyesight!
Carrot and Parsnip Mash
The perfect combination of two favourite roots, carrot and parsnips, are a match for each other.
To make carrot and parsnip mash, simply peel, boil and mash together until well combined. A chunk of butter and perhaps a dash of milk will ensure these two tasty root veg make smooth mash together.
Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Mash
Another lovely combination of sweet potato and butternut squash. Follow the instructions as usual; using half butternut squash to half sweet potato will give you a great mash that tastes fantastic.
Swede Mash
Similar to parsnips, swede is a sweet root veg that makes a great alternative. Just like parsnips, they are typically roasted but also make a great mash.
I’ve heard of people adding grated cheese to give the mash an extra tasty kick!
Carrot and Swede Mash
Who knew carrots and swede go so well together? Like the other sweet root veg, these two veggies work great when combined to make a tasty mash.
Peel them, chop them into cubes, boil until soft and simply mash up!
Celeriac Mash
Celeriac is a root veg that tastes like celery. It has a very distinctive flavour and can be enjoyed as chips, roasted or, in this case, mash.
Simply boil the celeriac until soft, drain and then mash with butter or milk to get a smooth consistency. You can also use an electric blender if you want it really smooth!
Chickpea Mash
No list of healthy alternatives to mashed potato and other starchy foods would be complete without chickpeas.
When pureed, Chickpea is often turned into hummus, but it can also be used as a substitute for mashed potatoes.
After soaking the chickpeas overnight, boil the chickpeas and simmer as you usually would, drain off the water, and then manually mash them or add them to a food processor to blend.
Add some crushed garlic and dried chilli flakes for a spicy kick.
Butterbean Mash
Butterbeans are a great bean that adds a great flavour to dishes. They have a soft, buttery texture which makes them perfect for mash.
Simply boil or steam the beans until soft, and then use a blender to turn them into a smooth puree. Add some olive oil for extra healthy fat and an even more great flavour!
Broccoli Mash
Broccoli is another great vegetable that can be used to sub for pasta or potato. Cut into small pieces and boil until soft, drain the water and then mash up or blend with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.